Ilo Ilo

A masterful family portrait by newcomer Chen Anthony, Ilo Ilo has already won the plaudits of the critics since its world premier at the 2013 Cannes Festival, where it won the coveted Camera d'Or for best debut long film.

Despite devoted patriarch Teck losing his job, the Lim family hire a maid, Teresa, to help the mother as they approach the arrival of their second child. Their 10-year-old son Jiale is already a troublemaker, and acts out as soon as Teresa moves in. The relationship between Teresa and Jiale is at the film's crux, and despite their troubled start, they soon grow close, perhaps closer than his mother finds comfortable. vd

Chen Anthony (b. 1984) is debuting in the feature film format with Ilo Ilo, but has already garnered great success with his short films. Ah Ma (2007) was nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and Haze (2008) was nominated for Best Short Film in Berlin. His style is akin to that of Koreeda Hirokazu, Pawel Pawlikowski or Gus Van Sant.